44TH “TONY HULMAN CLASSIC” SET WEDNESDAY AT TERRE HAUTE

One of America’s most revered short track races – the “Tony Hulman Classic” – will be renewed next Wednesday night at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. The AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car spectacular continues a tradition begun in 1971 at the half-mile oval.

George Snider won the debut and Jerry Coons Jr. is the defending champion but in between there have been memories to last a lifetime.

At age 41 last year, Coons was not the oldest winner. Terry Pletch won in 1999 at age 52 after starting 21st! Windom became the youngest winner at age 20 in 2011.

Darland, who is chasing Tom Bigelow’s all-time record USAC Sprint Car feature record of 52, has the most “Hulman” starts – 20. He has 49 career series wins, while Hines, also chasing the all-time win record, has 46. Darland is also the only driver to win more than one race so far in 2014. Seven different drivers have won in the first eight races of this year!

The last time a race rookie won the “Tony Hulman Classic” was J.J. Yeley in 1997!